BronkStompr
New member
Hello out there. I just purchased a reata from a guy and was wondering how tro strectch it. This is a whole new ball game for me. Any and all help would be helpful.
Reata Rope
- Thread starter BronkStompr
- Start date
per
Well-known member
You don't want any advise on how to stretch a rope from me. :shock: Welcome, someone with better respect for his or her ropes better answer the query. :wink:
A
Anonymous
Guest
The rawhide is supposed to be stretched before it is ever braided. So it shouldn't need to be. Just be sure to keep it clean and dry. Don't let it get wet. And when you rope something you have to "run your dallies". Meaning feed the riata off slowly to slow and stop the animal. If you just take two wraps and call it good you will snap it. Use animal fat to treat it.
little bow rancher
Well-known member
you might want to try to ask someone over at ranching country , there seems to be a few more people over there that enjoy using reata's , from what I've readBronkStompr said:
RobinFarmandRanch
Well-known member
BAR BAR 2 said:
X2!!!!!!! you dont want to go snapping cows necks. those reatas are already stretched when you get them. Just lets the dally run and youll be fine. youll prolly go through alot of rubber on your horn though.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
Wouldn't it be better to wrap your horn in mule hide if you want to run some rope-most of the long loopers up here do that.
A
Anonymous
Guest
You're right NR. If you try to dally a riata on rubber it will break. You have to use your dallies as a gradual brake, not a sudden stop. Riata roping is a pretty and artistic way to do things, but its a little more complex.
flyingS
Well-known member
I just got back from a ranch roping school, put on by Kip Fladland. Kip said you want to dip your reata everytime you use it. It allows them to soften and it keeps them consistent. Humidity will change the consistency of the reata tremendously.
No answers, only questions. How does one care for an ancient rawhide rope? It is somewhat dirty, mainly dust from hanging in the barn, etc. Not sure if it was used, but suppose it was as the old cowman who owned it was practical and a real 'hand'.
It will be displayed with other family treasures, not likely to be used.
mrj
It will be displayed with other family treasures, not likely to be used.
mrj
BronkStompr
New member
Thanks alot I just got it for a wall decoration and plan to use it at a few brandings no heavy roping. As far as the mule hide thats the only way to go as far as I'm concerned. That reata is like trying to rope with #9 wire. I heard you stretch them like a nylon then rub it down with a wet soapy rag. As far as I know thats it.
Blkbuckaroo
Well-known member
Use liver or rocky mountain oysters 
will soften your rope and give it a nice sheen..If your using a horn with rubber,use a yellow poly rope,very similar to a reata in action,and can get wet,and won't snap if you dally right away.Reata is king though in the right hands.
will soften your rope and give it a nice sheen..If your using a horn with rubber,use a yellow poly rope,very similar to a reata in action,and can get wet,and won't snap if you dally right away.Reata is king though in the right hands.
Chimenea
Well-known member
I have saved the text from an article by Pat Puckett that was published by Western Horseman in 2003; the article describes the care of a reata pretty well. Western Horseman's website doesn't have the article available online anymore, but I´d be happy to email a copy of what I have to you if you can live without the pictures of the original article. Contact me pm with your email and I´ll be happy to get the article to you (or anyone else interested).
If the reata is new, you won't need to stretch it so much as you will need to "pull" it to not only get the reata stretched, but to get the reata greased all the way to the core, as well. This will soften a stiff, new reata, and get it "usable". But if your reata has been used, just a good cleaning and greasing should work.
Long story short, and I´m quoting here from the article:
Maintaining a Reata
The big thing to remember is to keep a reata greased with kidney fat. I have some in the refrigerator that I apply lightly after the reata has been cleaned and dried in the sun. Once the reata has been pulled during initial preparation, it doesn't need to be pulled anymore–using it keeps the reata pulled.
After I get about halfway through a day at a roping, the reata is pretty dirty. If it feels a little dry, I wipe the reata down with a towel and rub a little kidney fat on the reata to soften it. I usually have to work on the first 20 feet because that's where the loop is and it spends more time on the ground.
Every time I use my reata, I clean it with a dry towel to remove the dirt. If it feels dry, I hang it in the sun to warm it and apply a light coat of kidney fat. If it's extremely dirty, I might wipe down my reata quickly with hot, soapy water, allow it to dry completely, and then apply kidney fat. It all depends on how the reata feels. I never over-grease my reata–that makes it heavy, dirty, and lifeless.
And if it's raining, I never use my reata.
Once you have the reata back in shape, it should be fine to use for branding; I've used a reata a lot with smaller calves, and you don't even need to be that proficient at running the reata on your saddle horn if you are sticking to smaller calves that won't pull very hard (I´m certainly not very good at letting the reata slip... which is why I switched to a braided poly rope...). Still, even if you are just planning on roping small calves at a branding, I´d take off the rubber wrapping from your horn; mule hide, rawhide, or smooth leather on your horn will work much better, since these will allow the rope to slip at least a little and prevent even minor jerking. And, they aren't expensive (about $12 from Capriolas and even cheaper at http://www.animalhealthexpress.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2856). I used saddles with slick metal horns (which slip a lot, and can be an adventure of its own if the horn isn't capped to prevent the dallies from popping up and off the horn...).
Anyway, if the reata has been hanging for an extensive period of time collecting dust, make sure you've cleaned and greased it with kidney fat properly before using it even with smaller calves; a dried out reata will snap pretty easily.
Cheers
If the reata is new, you won't need to stretch it so much as you will need to "pull" it to not only get the reata stretched, but to get the reata greased all the way to the core, as well. This will soften a stiff, new reata, and get it "usable". But if your reata has been used, just a good cleaning and greasing should work.
Long story short, and I´m quoting here from the article:
Maintaining a Reata
The big thing to remember is to keep a reata greased with kidney fat. I have some in the refrigerator that I apply lightly after the reata has been cleaned and dried in the sun. Once the reata has been pulled during initial preparation, it doesn't need to be pulled anymore–using it keeps the reata pulled.
After I get about halfway through a day at a roping, the reata is pretty dirty. If it feels a little dry, I wipe the reata down with a towel and rub a little kidney fat on the reata to soften it. I usually have to work on the first 20 feet because that's where the loop is and it spends more time on the ground.
Every time I use my reata, I clean it with a dry towel to remove the dirt. If it feels dry, I hang it in the sun to warm it and apply a light coat of kidney fat. If it's extremely dirty, I might wipe down my reata quickly with hot, soapy water, allow it to dry completely, and then apply kidney fat. It all depends on how the reata feels. I never over-grease my reata–that makes it heavy, dirty, and lifeless.
And if it's raining, I never use my reata.
Once you have the reata back in shape, it should be fine to use for branding; I've used a reata a lot with smaller calves, and you don't even need to be that proficient at running the reata on your saddle horn if you are sticking to smaller calves that won't pull very hard (I´m certainly not very good at letting the reata slip... which is why I switched to a braided poly rope...). Still, even if you are just planning on roping small calves at a branding, I´d take off the rubber wrapping from your horn; mule hide, rawhide, or smooth leather on your horn will work much better, since these will allow the rope to slip at least a little and prevent even minor jerking. And, they aren't expensive (about $12 from Capriolas and even cheaper at http://www.animalhealthexpress.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/2856). I used saddles with slick metal horns (which slip a lot, and can be an adventure of its own if the horn isn't capped to prevent the dallies from popping up and off the horn...).
Anyway, if the reata has been hanging for an extensive period of time collecting dust, make sure you've cleaned and greased it with kidney fat properly before using it even with smaller calves; a dried out reata will snap pretty easily.
Cheers
per
Well-known member
OK now that you have given me a little education on ropes, I have to ask why you would want to use one of these? I make my living ranching just so you know but there is no one here that is good at or wants to rope so I am asking out of curiosity. So is it nostalgia ie John Ware used one or grampa or do they throw nicer or feel nicer or just plain cool to be the only one there with one? Inquiring minds would like to know. :wink:
A
Anonymous
Guest
Per, it goes right along with the "Californio" style of horsemanship. Lots of people can ride and train a horse. How many people can train a horse to ride straight up in the bridle using a spade bit? Its the same way with a riata. Lots of people can rope, but someone good with a riata is like an artist. It just shows a higher level of skill and expertise in my opinion.
per
Well-known member
Thanks BB2, I totally get doing things for the sake of art. 
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
I like to compare the two as the difference between fly fishing and using a spinning real both catch you fish but one involves more artistry.
leanin' H
Well-known member
A Riata has it's own feel to it. They are still used on lots of ranches throughout the Great Basin. Some guys are simply amazing to watch with a Riata. I have my great Uncle's hanging on the wall at my Mom and Dad's place. It is a treasure.
Chimenea
Well-known member
leanin' H said:
You´re absolutely right about the feel; the braided rawhide has a life and feel that I just haven't been able to get in any twisted rope. And, the reata combines that life and feel with a really soft lay and less abrasive texture that won't burn nearly as much as a nylon or poly rope. So a good reata is particularly good for roping horses and young cattle, since the softer lay, more favorable texture, and gentler pull (from slipping the rope to keep the reata from snapping) won't burn or hurt a critter nearly as much as a nylon or poly rope sometimes can. Plus, it's a lot of fun to rope (either horseback or on foot) with a rope with the kind of life and feel that you get from a good reata.
